Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any characters from Bleach. If I did, I would have moved to Cali for fun in the sun by now.
-BLEACH-
'Normal is overrated,' thought one orange-haired teen as he absentmindedly stared out of the classroom window. It had been six months since Kurosaki Ichigo had defeated Aizen and lost his powers, and he was seriously bored. 'Damn, I really wish I could fight Hollows again. At least they made things interesting.'
Ichigo's friends silently watched the brooding orange-head, wishing they could help, and knowing it was impossible. Ichigo sacrificed pretty much every that defined who he was just to stop one madman. It wasn't fair. Inoue Orihime hated seeing Ichigo like this the most. Sure, he scowled a lot, but not like this. At least he wasn't always upset when he was scowling, unlike now.
-BLEACH-
"ICHIIIGOOOOOO!" shouted Isshin, aiming a flying leap at his son's head as the ex-Shinigami entered the house. Sighing, the orange-head leaned to the left and his Shinigami father sailed right past him.
"I'm going to my room. Call me for dinner," was all the sullen teen said. Isshin sat up blinking.
"What's wrong with onii-san?" Yuzu asked. Karin sighed.
"He's still sulking, that's what. He hates being normal now that he's become normal," the dark-haired twin said wisely. Isshin stood up. Ichigo wasn't even getting pissed at his father anymore. Not a good sign.
"I'm calling one of his friends," he said, suddenly serious. Yuzu and Karin exchanged a look. Isshin + serious = bad news.
-BLEACH-
"Yeah, I'll come over. I've been worried about him too. I'll be there soon, Kurosaki-san," Orihime assured the worried father over the phone. She sighed as she hung up. 'Ichigo...' she thought, becoming increasingly worried over him. She grabbed her purse and keys and ran out the door.
"Well, well, if it isn't Inoue-san, all alone. Where's the great Kurosaki-bastard?" sneered a chilling voice behind the auburn-haired healer. Whirling around, with her hands at her hairclips, Orihime turned to face her enemy. She froze at what she saw.
"G-Grimmjow?" she stuttered, cold fear entering her.
"Aw, how sweet. You remember me," the Espada taunted. "Kurosaki should have killed me when he had the chance. Now he's powerless, and I'll make him pay. Too bad you have to be first."
-BLEACH-
The pencil in Ichigo's hand snapped as he suddenly stiffened. 'Impossible. I can't-' he began thinking before he felt Orihime's reitetsu begin to fade with Grimmjow's still hovering over her. "DAMN!" he shouted, throwing open his door and flying down the stairs.
"Ichigo, what-?" Isshin began, but his son shoved past him.
"Orihime's in trouble!" was all he yelled as he ran out the door. Isshin noticed Ichigo had subconsciously grabbed his Shinigami badge from his desk.
"Shit..."
-BLEACH-
"ORIHIME!" the orange-head cried as he saw the girl bleeding out in front of a monster he thought was dead. Turning fiercely angry eyes toward the Espada, the former Vizard growled, "Why?"
"Because you care for her, and not being able to save her would ruin your pride. Though I AM surprised you came just now. Oh, and the fact that you see me to, let's not forget-"
BAM!
Ichigo had planted his foot in Grimmjow's face, sending the Espada reeling from the unexpected attack. "You hurt her. Now you will pay!" Ichigo roared, the seal on his powers breaking loose. His energy erupted in a vortex of blue and black reitetsus so dense, he was only a shadow in the center.
"No one hurts Orihime!" the enraged Vizard shouted, the vortex increasing in strength as it blew away any clouds in the starry sky. "You will pay!" A brilliant flash of dark gold blinded the Espada and when the light allowed him to see once again, he immediately sought out his nemesis. If he had ever had reason to be afraid, now was the time.
Ichigo had his Bankai robes on, red cape and all, only he wasn't a Shinigami. His eyes were black with gold irises, only he had no hollow mask. And what really freaked the Espada out was the dark gold wings folded over Ichigo's back. If Grimmjow had to guess, Ichigo's human, Shinigami, and Hollow powers had finally fused as one.